Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the other characters from the series.
Reviewers: I love you all!!! You are so sweet!!! As to some of your questions, I'll answer some of them right now. Some you wanted to know what had happened to the characters that have and haven't been introduced to the story yet. Here's what's going on:
*Naraku, Kagura, Kanna, etc.- The Shikon hasn't been completed yet, so Naraku is still in the picture. He will probably appear somewhere around the middle of the story.
*Inuyasha and Kikyou: They are searching for the Shards somewhere North of where Kagome is looking for them. They will appear in the story occasionally, but mostly they will be off doing their own thing.
*Sesshoumaru, Jaken, and Rin: Rin, as you know, has already been introduced. Sesshoumaru will be in this chapter *yay*, while Jaken will appear in the 3rd.
I know that Rin should be somewhere around 10 years old, but I kind of forgot and the story would just be weird if she was older.
*Sango, Miroku, and Shippou: They will be around for most of the story. Kaede will show up, but only at the times when Kagome visits her in the village. I know that Shippou should be older too, but I feel the same way about him as I do about Rin.
*Kohaku and Kouga may be in the story, but I haven't decided on that yet.
D i s co v e r i e s
Chapter 2: The Debt
Kagome awoke to the warm feeling of sunbeams flitting across her face from in-between the leaves of the trees that towered above her head. She stretched and opened her eyes, looking around the clearing that surrounded her. She turned and looked at Rin, who was snuggled up against her side, her black hair slightly mussed from sleeping on her side, a slight snore emanating from her open mouth. Kagome got out of the sleeping bag and stood up, pondering between waking Rin up or allowing her to sleep. She chose to allow her to sleep longer, deciding to wake her up after she was done making breakfast. With that she walked over to her pack and started getting ready.
First, she walked over to a nearby stream that was in viewing distance of the camp, just in case Rin woke up and was wondering where she was. She slowly stripped off her pajamas and waded into the cold water, going slowly at first but dunking all the way under the water after it had reached her waist.
'Brrrrr. This is cold.' She idly thought, swimming in slow circles around the stream. The cold water seemed to get rid of the grogginess that comes from waking up in the morning. 'What am I going to do about Rin? It's not like I can just get up and leave to help her look for Sesshoumaru. I have my responsibilities, and he would probably just kill me anyway.' A sneer worked its way onto her face as she thought about Sesshoumaru. 'Well maybe I'll get lucky and he will come to take her back.' She thought it over; wondering if having Sesshoumaru come near her and her friends was such a good thing. 'Well… I don't think that it matters that much right now. I'll worry about it when the time comes.' She thought, silently deciding not to do anything until her friends get back.
Kagome, finished with her bath, then proceeded to walk back to the campsite and light a fire. She gathered fresh wood for the pit, before lighting a match and throwing it into the fire. After throwing some food, from what is now the last of their supplies onto the fire, she sat down and watched the food cook. She sat in silence for some time, the scent of cooked meat gently permeating the air around her.
She decided that the food was cooked when it stopped sizzling in the fire, and got up to wake up Rin. She walked over to her and knelt down besides her, reaching a hand out to nudge her shoulder.
Her hand was mere inches away from touching the girl when a pale, clawed hand shot out from nowhere and pinned her by he neck to the closet tree. She looked up at her assailant, struggling against the hand on her neck and gasped at what she saw. A cold, merciless, silver haired, golden eyed youkai with red streaks and a crescent moon that adorned his face was staring maliciously at her. A look of pure menace that made her want to curl into a tight ball, just so that she could escape the piercing gaze coming from the two golden orbs. You could practically taste the fear that rolled off of her in waves, and the first thought that made its way into her head was, 'Sesshoumaru!'
~~~
Sesshoumaru awoke to the sunlight dancing across his chiseled features in the dawn light. He sat up and looked around for Rin and Jaken, and stiffening when he saw that they were nowhere to be found. A low growl sounded from his chest, reverberating throughout the clearing, and causing all animals to run and hide. He stood up; pain flowing through him from the many wounds that had been inflicted upon his body during battle. The pain from his wounds causing him to remember what had happened.
~~~Flashback~~~
Sesshoumaru stood on a dirt road; his back turned towards the fading sunlight as it streamed across him in waves, the wind silently blowing his hair around him. His eyes moved over the field that he had decided to spend the night in, watching as Rin picked flowers and gave them to Jaken, who just threatened to kill her, even though he never proceeded to take any course of action to accomplish them, knowing that if he did, Sesshoumaru would be quick to kill him.
He had just turned around to go and hunt their dinner when the scent of a strange demon blew across his nose. He instantly turned and ran towards Rin, standing in front of her in a defensive stance. He could tell that the Demon was approaching quickly, and from the air. He tensed up, his claws lengthening and turning green as his poison began to seep out of them. The demon burst out from in-between the trees, its wings flapping it up and down before slowly lowering it to the ground.
The demon was about 7 feet tall, and had skin that was lacerated with black designs, seemingly to be some sort of tattoo. Wings sprouted from its back while bone spikes jutted out from the sides of its arms and legs. The body structure of the demon was that of a human. To most it would seem that it was just another bloodthirsty youkai, but Sesshoumaru identified it immediately. 'A leader of one of the Shezou clan. What is he doing here?' He wondered. The Shezou Clans were one of the most feared youkai ninja clans, and also one of Sesshoumaru's worst enemies.
"What business do you have in my lands?" He growled out at the demon. The demon in turn just smirked back at him, readying himself for a fight.
"To kill you, of course. I can tell that it will be a quick fight, for only weak youkai travel with humans." He spat out the word 'humans', as if it burned his tongue. "It's a shame, really, that a youkai of your station has reduced itself to this level." He glared at Rin, causing her to run and hide behind Jaken. "You were once known for your fierceness in battle." He said, turning his attention back towards Sesshoumaru. "But it will not matter soon, for I will soon rid the Earth of your lowly presence."
Sesshoumaru growled, angered by the insults that the youkai had hurled at him. 'He will pay for his insolence,' was his last thought before he prepared himself for battle. He stood; waiting for battle as the youkai slowly built up power in his hands, lightning flickering from the glowing sphere, glancing off onto trees. It turned, ready to release its blast, but at the last moment, turned towards Rin and fired the energy at her instead.
Sesshoumaru watched in slow motion as the youkai launched an attack, not at him, but at the girl that he had been protecting for quite some time now. He knew that if he didn't intervene, then both Rin and Jaken would most definitely be killed, so at the last moment before the attack was about to strike, he ran, placing himself in-between the line of attack and his faithful comrades.
He held in a cry of pain as the energy tore into his clothes, putting deep gashes all over his body. When the energy subsided, he turned towards Rin and Jaken, warning them to stay away as he finished the fight.
"Jaken, take Rin and run. Rin, you must leave." He forced out, gritting his teeth as pain coursed through his limbs.
"But Sesshoumaru-sama…"
"Now." He barked, giving Rin a look that made her leave immediately. He watched as they left, relief claiming him when they were gone. He had sent them away because Shezou fighters were extremely ruthless, and nothing would keep them from achieving their goal.
Turning around, he looked the youkai over with an appraising eye. It would not be a hard fight. This youkai was fresh out of training, full of himself, positive that nothing could harm him. Sesshoumaru's claws slowly lengthened, poison dripping from his hand. Without warning he attacked, slicing into the youkai's stomach, leaving a gaping hole where the poison burned away the skin and muscle.
They youkai turned, its eyes gaping in surprise, it's hand over it's stomach. Its breathing became ragged from the loss of the blood pooling around its feet. Sesshoumaru, not finding amusement in death, swiftly cut its throat.
He turned around and walked away in disgust, wanting to be rid of the disgusting demon. He winced when his wounds stretched and looked down at his blood soaked clothing. His eyebrows rose. 'I didn't know I had lost so much blood.' He swayed, putting his hand up to a particularly large cut in his side, feeling the blood dribble through his fingers. 'I must find Rin.' Was the last thought that crossed his mind before he was consumed in darkness.
~~~End Flashback~~~
He growled, standing up, angry with himself for his weakness. 'How can I protect Rin if I allow myself to become injured in a battle?' he questioned himself. 'You wouldn't be injured if the girl wasn't around.' Another voice whispered, but he just ignored it, searching for Rin's scent on the air.
It was coming from the southeast, about 10 miles away, he presumed. He jumped in the air, flying above the trees, his feet never touching the ground. He slowed down when Rin's scent became stronger. It seemed to be coming from a clearing a small distance away, and there was another scent that was accompanying it. The new scent seemed familiar, and Sesshoumaru swore that he had smelled it before.
Then it hit him. He remembered that scent. 'My idiot of a brother's wench. What is she doing here?' He growled, stalking up towards the campsite. He stood there for some time, watching the girl get the food ready and wash herself. 'Well, at least the wench knows to keep herself clean.' He mentally berated himself for thinking well of the girl.
He watched Rin. She seemed to be under some sort of spell. She wasn't moving and her breathing was shallow and slow. He tensed up, watching as the girl walked towards Rin. When she was a foot away, he couldn't stop himself and attacked her, pinning her against a tree. He could smell the fear rolling off of her in waves, and forced out,
"What have you done to Rin, wench?"
~~~
Kagome gasped, the edges of her vision beginning to go black from air depravation. She looked up, staring at Sesshoumaru's cold face, waiting for him to say something.
"What did you do to Rin, wench?" He asked, slowly tightening his hand around her neck.
"I didn't do anything to her!" She forced out, her breath coming in small gasps. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"You're lying, miko. I, Sesshoumaru, know when someone is under a spell." He said, a superior tone to his voice. "And if you don't tell me how to remove it than I will have to kill you."
'Spell? What on Earth is he talking about? She's just asleep.' She pondered, suddenly becoming angry. 'How can he think that I would hurt Rin?! I would never do such a thing!'
Kagome suddenly looked Sesshoumaru straight in the eye and hissed, a demonic look in her eye, "How many times do I have to tell you? I. Didn't. Do. Anything. To. Rin." She glared at him, angry at his accusations.
Sesshoumaru, surprised at the small girl's burst of power, slightly loosened his hand around her neck. He stared her in the eyes, looking for traces of a lie. He was about to speak again when he was interrupted by the voice of a happy child.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin cried, running up to him and hugging his legs. "Rin was worried about you!" She looked up, finally noticing the predicament that Kagome was in. "Sesshoumaru-sama, what are you doing to Kagome-chan?" She asked inquisitively, wondering why Kagome was pinned to a tree.
Sesshoumaru instantly dropped Kagome, turning around to talk to Rin. "Nothing, Rin. What did you do while I was gone?" He asked, trying to get information about the girl.
"Well, after Rin had to run, she found Kagome-chan. Kagome-chan was going to help Rin find you!" She piped up, proud of herself for finding help.
"Oh. Next time don't run so far." Sesshoumaru said. Rin just smiled, knowing that it was his way of praising her. He turned to Kagome, who was sitting under the tree, watching him as if he was there to amuse her. "Get up, wench." He growled, glaring at her.
"What?" She asked sarcastically, "Did you finally figure out that I didn't do anything to Rin?" She smirked. He growled. "It took you long enough," She said, a bored expression on her face. "I only told you about four times." Sesshoumaru growled, angered at her insolence.
"Do not talk back to me, human." He spat out human as if they were the most despicably things in the world. 'Inuyasha's wench is angering me. Since when do I let my emotions get the better of me?' He asked himself, pushing his anger back and replacing it with a cold emotionless mask. 'Wait. If she is here, than the idiot hanyou must be here also.' He turned, staring her straight in the eyes, looking deeply into her soul.
Kagome gasped when Sesshoumaru turned his gaze on her, his eyes burning into hers. 'He has beautiful eyes…' Her thought wandered off, before she mentally slapped herself. 'Don't think that. He is a cold, ruthless, killer.' Her mind said. 'But why would a fearsome youkai travel with a child?' another voice chimed in, adding its piece. 'It doesn't matter,' she replied fiercely, 'he is still an evil youkai…' she told herself, but there was still a small sliver of doubt that made her believe that it was not true.
"Where is the hanyou, wench." He asked, watching her suspiciously. He watched as many emotions crossed her face. Sadness, betrayal, and hatred all passed before it settled on anger.
"He's not here. We don't travel together anymore." She replied, her face taking a look of remembrance, as if she was going back in her memories to the past.
'Ah, so his companions have finally realized that he is worthless and left him.' A smirk crossed his features. 'They shall be rewarded for their choice.' He turned back to the girl.
"For your choice of leaving the hanyou, I will spare you your life, wench. I am also in your debt for protecting Rin. When you want me to repay you, come for me in my castle." He smirked, watching confusion pass over her features. He turned. "Come Rin, we are leaving. Say goodbye to the girl."
"Ok Sesshoumaru-sama!" She walked over to Kagome. "Bye Kagome-chan! Rin will miss you!"
"Bye Rin. I will miss you too." Kagome watched as they got ready to leave, before calling out to them. "Sesshoumaru!" He turned, glaring at her.
"What?"
"My name is Kagome. Kagome." She repeated. "Get it right. It's not, wench, bitch, miko, or girl." She smirked as he growled, and watched as he lifted Rin up and flew into the morning sky.
'That was definitely interesting. Since when has Sesshoumaru ever placed himself in anyone's debt?' She asked herself, pondering what had just happened. 'Well, no need to worry myself about it now. I'll get to it when the time comes.' And with that, she lay down to the ground and fell asleep.
~~~~~
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